Thanks, BGG. I will get them to do a full inspection.
How are you liking your Mini? I can’t wait!
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Mac mini's (2018) power LED not working
- Thread starter opeter
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I am liking it a lot. Using my 60" 4K tv as a monitor has spoiled me even though I have to set it at 720p, due to being about 14 feet away. It boots fast, runs smooth with no coil whine, white screen static or USB problems. I have done some light encoding so far, with no fan noise, as was expected. I also like the fact that enabling FV during set up was almost instantaneous, due to the T2 chip.
I have 22TB connected right now with another 10TB in the wings for my server / video files use. I didn't originally plan on using the mini as much as I have been. But with the big screen while in my leather recliner, I am right at home, especially with this for the keyboard and trackpad. It makes typing on the space gray numeric much easier and nicer. I am very happy with my purchase thus far.
Hopefully, you will get your repair done fairly quickly.
Wow, 32 TB! Drool, drool!
I just have an external raid pair of 1TB ssd and the original drive from my 2013 nmp via usb3. I work on small chunks, though.
It sounds like with my egpu and the raid, 4k 10bit 60p 422 might actually work.
Now for a larger TV, was planning on using my 42”, but sounds like I might need to rethink given room dimensions. Sorry to OP, for straying off topic a bit.
I just have an external raid pair of 1TB ssd and the original drive from my 2013 nmp via usb3. I work on small chunks, though.
It sounds like with my egpu and the raid, 4k 10bit 60p 422 might actually work.
Now for a larger TV, was planning on using my 42”, but sounds like I might need to rethink given room dimensions. Sorry to OP, for straying off topic a bit.
I have noticed ever since I plugged in my eGPU my power LED works on boot up but when it goes to sleep and comes back on, the light never does. Not a big issue. the eGPU light lets me know. I'm going to be doing the RAM upgrade on Tuesday. I thought 8 gb would last me a few weeks. I already hit the wall within 48 hours.
Interesting. I will probably shut down after every session and that way know what is powered down. Also, cache files will be stripped on boot-up, helpful. I am hoping 32 is enough, 64 in my nmp still leaves me wanting. The price jump to 64 just is not worth it TODAY, but hopefully will come down soon. Cheers!
I did the upgrade myself yesterday. Took some time and had some issues putting the logic board back in the case. I forgot the move the LED cable out of the way when i slid it back in and it got squished. I pulled it back out and put it back in it's socket. It thankfully worked. The thing that took me the most time was putting the airport cable back into place.
OK, Just had this same problem (accidentally popped the whole led lead housing off the motherboard). I'm not confident enough in my soldering skills to put it back on (esp. given that the poster above said he ended up with a black screen). I'm wondering...given that it's just an LED, can I just not reattach it? I can live without the light.
If you fan live without the LED, not a problem. Maybe a bit of electrical tape to cover the end, so it’s not flopping around, making random contacts would be wise? Someone else more in the know could clarify that, but no light just means no light. Connect it all back up and try again now, see what happens.
So I upgraded my newly purchased refurbished Mac Mini 2018 a few days ago only to find the LED didn't work for me either. I knew I reattached the LED connector, so tonight I just finished going inside for the second time to check it. Sure enough, it was connected, but upon further inspection, I noticed one of the corners closest to the lead wires was ever-so-slightly lifted.
Try as I may, I couldn't get it to sit flush inside the connector. I crossed my fingers and reassembled everything only to discover it still wasn't working. I wish I'd plugged it in before upgrading my RAM to see if it was working in the first place. Now I'll never know.
At least, from reading this forum post, the LED is something I can live without and the cable only runs the LED. I do have a USB hub that stays on when the computer is running (as another person suggested), so that's indicator enough I suppose.
Rather than report this back to Apple and risk voiding my warranty or having to send the computer back, I've decided to wait and see if something happens to the computer within the year that actually gives me a viable reason for requesting service. That way, I can casually mention the LED at that point and still (hopefully) get the warrantied service.
Try as I may, I couldn't get it to sit flush inside the connector. I crossed my fingers and reassembled everything only to discover it still wasn't working. I wish I'd plugged it in before upgrading my RAM to see if it was working in the first place. Now I'll never know.
At least, from reading this forum post, the LED is something I can live without and the cable only runs the LED. I do have a USB hub that stays on when the computer is running (as another person suggested), so that's indicator enough I suppose.
Rather than report this back to Apple and risk voiding my warranty or having to send the computer back, I've decided to wait and see if something happens to the computer within the year that actually gives me a viable reason for requesting service. That way, I can casually mention the LED at that point and still (hopefully) get the warrantied service.
>> Yesterday I did shutdown my computer - Mac mini 2018 - and today after I turned it on, the LED doesn't work anymore.
>Did it work before you upgraded your RAM?
>>OMG. Yes, you were right...
Remind me of what Gregory said in the drama House years ago...
>Did it work before you upgraded your RAM?
>>OMG. Yes, you were right...
Remind me of what Gregory said in the drama House years ago...
Thanks for the post. I noticed my indicator was off too after the RAM upgrade. The connector is slightly tilted when I put it back in. Working fine now. Thanks for taking the time to show the exact location - was a quick fix as a result!OMG. Yes, you were right... Now I feel dumb.
I just reattached the cable.
This little fellow here:
Image by iFixit.
Yes, it does work again. Thank you so much!!!
I just damaged my new Mac-mini when installing memory. The post here leave me a bit confused. The cable that came off the mother board, as quoted above, is what I did - I think. The damage cable has only 2 wires and its attach point is shown in the image from iFixit in an earlier post.
Early on the RAM install process demands the removal of another connector (with a 'button') and in this sequence of posts I get the feeling they are being interchanged. As an example a post by Dr. Stealth refers to a purchase on eBay of "IR BOARD SENSOR CABLE - Mac mini Unibody A1347 (Mid 2010, 2011, Late 2012, 2014). When I search for that I find a different cable - with more that 2 wires.
The iFixit video refers to my problem cable as the "LED indicator". BTW, can I live with out that?
Is it possible to reattach? I just bought my mini a few days ago from B&H. Is it worthwhile to appeal to Apple?
Finally, this is my first time posting and I apologize if I have failed to adhere to protocol. I'll learn more as I participate..
Yes, it is not crucial. Your LED will not light up, but that is. The computer should work.
Just upgraded my 1 week old Mac Mini, today. And, yes, I too broke the LED indicator socket. It was totally my fault. I was ever so carefully prying up from "under" the socket, and the socket popped off. I thought I had just "bricked" my new Mac Mini. I found out the cable is only for the front LED. This is "cosmetic" only, for me. I hardly noticed the LED anyway. I was so relieved that my Mini works perfectly, with 32GB of RAM installed!
This is my first Mini, and second computer alongside my MBP (Mid '14, 15" core i7). To think about it, my MBP does not have an LED to indicate it's on. So why would it be so important to know that my Mini is on, or off. If it's off, the monitor is blank/off.
This is my first Mini, and second computer alongside my MBP (Mid '14, 15" core i7). To think about it, my MBP does not have an LED to indicate it's on. So why would it be so important to know that my Mini is on, or off. If it's off, the monitor is blank/off.
Hi everyone, my first post (although I have been reading MacRumors for years) and great to see such high-quality advice and diagnosis. I've just done the exact same thing - installed 32Gb of new RAM and managed to flip the whole LED indicator socket off the logic board instead of just extracting the connector ...
I have a USB DAC on a USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 adapter and this is what now tells me if the Mac mini (6 core i5) is on. I'd love the LED indicator back but since this is the only component affected, I'm not risking solder and certainly not paying £££hundreds for a new logic board. In all other respects, the Mac mini late 2018 is fantastic work machine: I wasn't attracted by previous Mac mini models, using a 2010 Mac Pro and late 2017 MBP 13" core i5 (16 Mb RAM), but to my surprise this has been a superb replacement for the Mac Pro.
Thanks again for great advice!
I have a USB DAC on a USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 adapter and this is what now tells me if the Mac mini (6 core i5) is on. I'd love the LED indicator back but since this is the only component affected, I'm not risking solder and certainly not paying £££hundreds for a new logic board. In all other respects, the Mac mini late 2018 is fantastic work machine: I wasn't attracted by previous Mac mini models, using a 2010 Mac Pro and late 2017 MBP 13" core i5 (16 Mb RAM), but to my surprise this has been a superb replacement for the Mac Pro.
Thanks again for great advice!